Iran and New Zealand played out one of the most entertaining matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 so far, with the two sides settling for a dramatic 2-2 draw in their Group G opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The match burst into life almost immediately as New Zealand stunned Iran with an early breakthrough. In the 7th minute, Elijah Just finished brilliantly after being picked out by veteran striker Chris Wood, giving the All Whites a dream start and sending their supporters into celebration.
Iran responded positively and gradually took control of possession, creating a number of dangerous opportunities in search of an equaliser. Their pressure eventually paid off in the 32nd minute when experienced defender Ramin Rezaeian found space inside the penalty area and calmly finished past goalkeeper Max Crocombe to level the score at 1-1.
The second half continued at a frantic pace, with both teams showing attacking intent. New Zealand regained the lead in the 54th minute when Elijah Just struck again, completing his brace and putting the Oceania representatives back in front. Once again, Chris Wood played a key role in the move as New Zealand threatened to pull off a major upset.
However, Iran refused to give up and found another response ten minutes later. In the 64th minute, Mohammad Mohebi headed home after excellent work from Rezaeian, who provided the assist to cap off an outstanding individual performance.
Both sides pushed for a winner during an exciting final period, creating chances at either end. Iran finished with more shots overall, while New Zealand remained dangerous on the counterattack. Despite the end-to-end action, neither team could find a decisive goal and the points were ultimately shared.
The result means all four teams in Group G completed the opening round with one point after Belgium and Egypt also played out a draw earlier in the day.
Match Summary
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Goals:
- Elijah Just (New Zealand) – 7′
- Ramin Rezaeian (Iran) – 32′
- Elijah Just (New Zealand) – 54′
- Mohammad Mohebi (Iran) – 64′
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026
Group: G
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
Attendance: 70,108
